Teams meet ahead of hearing

NEWS STORY28/06/2005

The seven teams that opted to withdraw from the recent United States Grand Prix, are to meet in Paris today, ahead of Wednesday's meeting of the World Motor Sport Council, at which they will learn their fate.

The seven teams will be joined in Paris by Minardi boss Paul Stoddart, who is there to give "support", even though his team took part in the race, and collected 7 points for finishing 5th and 6th.

At the weekend, Stoddart, who is regarded as a spokesman, come shop steward, for the teams threatening to join the breakaway championship, warned that there could be a boycott of the French Grand Prix, should any punishment meted out by the FIA be regarded as harsh.

On Monday, Michelin released a fresh statement, which many regard as highly ambiguous. Part of the statement read: "The tyres were not intrinsically flawed, but were insufficiently suited to the extreme racing conditions encountered through Turn 13 of the Indianapolis circuit this year."